[GMcD]

Nice find Patrick. I ventured out to Iona Beach Park this morning to see what the activity was. I was hoping for murmurations of shorebirds, and the Yellow Headed Blackbird. Not very many shorebird flocks close in, due to tide level and weather, and I heard the Yellow Headed Blackbird, but didn't see him. Oh, he's always in the parking lot the other birders say.... yah, well, not when I'm there.

However, I was able to watch the pair of Ospreys that are back for the summer, being harassed by Crows as well as hovering over the pond looking for a meal. Plus I watched and listened to the Purple Martins as they are returning to, and claiming the old nesting boxes on the pilings on the river side there. We can add the Osprey and the Purple Martins to the list now:

Osprey by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Purple Martin pair by GMcD2008, on Flickr

[stumblingpiper]

Wow -- happy to see all the regular and rare birds. Very cool updates!

As I'm going through updating the list (currently with my new ones we are at 135 birds), I noticed I had some pictures but didn't post them yet. So, here we go with a big update.
In the last couple of weeks, I've been in the South of the Okanagan (around Osoyoos) a few times. I found this Rock Pigeon hanging out down there.


Also saw this Say's Phoebe at the Road 22 Oxbows ... Ian might have to pop in and get our Bobolink. lol.


A couple of weeks ago I was hiking in Scenic Canyon in Southeast Kelowna area and was able to snap a shot of this White-Throated Swift. Not great, but it will work!


I feel very blessed to live right by the trailhead to Knox Mountain Park. That place continues to deliver birds for me! First, a better shot of the Red-Breasted Nuthatch.

His cousin the Pygmy Nuthatch was nearby. I saw the White-breasted Nuthatch, but didn't have a good shot.

I heard several of these and finally saw one for a photo op: Cassin's Finch!


Glad to see the Lewis Woodpecker is possibly nesting in the park again this year! Here are a couple shots of him/her.




A Pileated Woodpecker has been transiting back and forth to the park by my house.


There have been plenty of these Common Ravens hanging around, too.


Finally, on my way back out of the park to my neighborhood I saw one of our resident Wild Turkeys.


Keep up the great work, everyone! I'm enjoying all the great photos ...
James

[stumblingpiper]

The link to our updated list: viewtopic.php?p=92345#p92345

Really am enjoying all the posts. Some awesome birds out there! 135 and moving on!
Thanks again.
James

[GMcD]

Great update, thanks James, good to have the updated list too. Now, if I can just get that Yellow Headed Blackbird at Iona Park soon.....

[Smithers]

169A2257-Red-Breasted Sapsucker by Patrick Covello, on Flickr

A Red-Breasted Sapsucker at Piper Spit.

Pat

[stumblingpiper]

Very nice, Pat! Loving the adds. I was out to two places recently. I was at Wood Lake in Lake Country trying to find a stray Western Grebe. Instead, I found the Horned Grebe (which we already have) and the Red-necked Grebe! (male and female)




I was at Munson Pond in South Kelowna today. Sadly, I find the birding there not as good as in the past. However, I've put a big push into the common birds lately. Here's a Starling for the list...


Enjoy!
James

[GMcD]

Another bright morning at London's Landing, and I saw two Turkey Vultures soaring over Shady Island, catching some thermals. A bit of a distant shot, but unmistakably a Turkey Vulture to add to the list:

Turkey Vulture by GMcD2008, on Flickr

[BillGyles]

I've been stuck at home for a while, but here is a Pine Siskin from the bird bath. I made it out to Parksville yesterday to the see the eagles fishing for midshipmen fish. Saw 76 Bald Eagles but not much fishing action. Here are an American Pipit and a Band-Tailed Pigeon from the Englishman River Estuary.
Pine Siskin by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

American Pipit by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Band-Tailed Pigeon by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

[GMcD]

I heard the squawk of a Caspian Tern outside my place this morning which was a sign I should go check out Iona Beach Park in Richmond, maybe finally tag that Yellow Headed Blackbird, and see what else was happening out there.

The morning was bright and sunny and I went down to the beach as the tide was going out to see if there was any shorebird activity. Fun- a Baird's Sandpiper working the debris line and a pair of Black Bellied Plovers away out there as the tide receded.

So we can add the Baird's Sandpiper and the Black Bellied Plover to the list:

Baird's Sandpiper by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Black Bellied Plover by GMcD2008, on Flickr

[GMcD]

And I finally got some shots of the Yellow Headed Blackbird as he was gleaning bugs in the grass along the edge of the parking lot. We can add the Yellow Headed Blackbird to the list:

Yellow Headed Blackbird by GMcD2008, on Flickr

[GMcD]

By 8:20AM, the clouds had rolled in and it was now dull overcast light. I checked out the SW Inner pond along the pipeline at Iona Park to see if there were any other shorebirds or interesting ducks. A pair of Blue Winged Teal took off as I was scanning the group of Shovelers out in the pond, and they flew out to the tidal flats toward the airport. No sandpipers, but I took the sighting of the Blue Winged Teal as a sign that I should head back home via Terra Nova Park in Richmond to check out the ponds there. I saw five Blue Winged Teal in the north pond at Terra Nova last year, so maybe....

I got to the pond at Terra Nova and surprise, a pair of Cinnamon Teal drakes out in the pond. Fun!

We can add the Cinnamon Teal to the list:

Cinnamon Teal drakes by GMcD2008, on Flickr

[GMcD]

Once at Terra Nova Park, I thought I'd check the path around the south fields for any warbler activity. Had a sighting of an Olive Sided Flycatcher up high, that flew away just after pointing the camera at it. Very little action in the bushes, but I did find a pair of Wilson's Warblers in a willow bush near the path. The male flitted deeper into the bush while the female stayed and gave me a couple looks. We can add the Wilson's Warbler to the list:

Wilson's Warbler female by GMcD2008, on Flickr

[BillGyles]

It was very quiet at Neck Point Park today, but I came across this Barred Owl snoozing next to the path.

Barred Owl by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

[Steely]

Finally... after a few missing years... here is the long awaited Rock Wren that I've found to be more elusive than I had expected. This one was more cooperative and was taken near OK Falls last week.


Rock Wren

[Steely]

Our first Bullock's Oriole of the Spring taken near OK Falls B.C.


Bullock's Oriole